Classic roulette is a casino table game that’s been played for centuries. It consists of a spinning wheel with numbered slots into which a ball is dropped. A variation, called European roulette, is a fun, exciting, and popular game of chance to play online. Let’s explore how to play and win European roulette today.

Object of the Game of Roulette

The game of Roulette was created in the 17th century and means “little wheel” in French. Although many variations exist, all roulette gameplay centers on a wheel and a ball. Players bet on where they think the ball will settle once it has been dropped onto the spinning wheel. To win European roulette, you must have placed a bet in a space that matches where the ball has landed.

How to Play European Roulette

A European roulette wheel has 37 numbered slots from 0 to 36. Slots numbered 1 to 36 alternate their colors between red and black, and the zero slot color is green. A player predicts which number or color the ball will land on and places a bet accordingly. Players can place more than one bet per game.

After all bets are made, the dealer or the "croupier" turns the wheel in one direction and spins the ball in the opposite direction. Once the ball settles into a slot, the winner is announced and collects their winnings. Players then choose to bet the same bet again, make a new bet, or leave the game. Roulette is a simple game to play; the challenging part is making predictions and placing bets.

How to Bet on European Roulette

Before you play roulette, it’s key to understand how betting works. A European roulette table has a betting layout that is divided into two main betting types: inside bets and outside bets. Players can bet on individual numbers or groups of numbers. Here’s a closer look at the different types of bets you can make.

Inside Bets

Inside bets refer to the inner part of the roulette table where a player bets on a single number, adjacent numbers, or small groups of numbers. They are higher risk but offer more reward. The five types of inside bets include:

Straight-up bet: You place a bet directly on a single number, which can include the single zero. Payout = 35:1

Split bet: You place a bet on the line between any two adjacent numbers, including bets with the single zero. Payout = 17:1

Street bet: This includes all three numbers in a row. You place a bet on the line at the end of the row. Different placement is required for bets that include zero. Payout = 11:1

Corner bet: This includes a group of four numbers. You place a bet in the corner where the four numbers meet. Payout = 8:1

Line bet: This includes six numbers as two rows of three numbers. You place bets at the end of two rows or on the border between rows. Payout = 5:1

Outside Bets

Outside bets are for larger groups of numbers. They offer less risk but also less reward. These are bets placed outside the individual numbers that make up the inner part of the betting table. The five kinds of outside bets include:

Column bet: This includes an entire column of numbers. You place a bet at the bottom of the column in the 2:1 box. Payout = 2:1

Dozen bet: This includes a group of 12 numbers. You place a bet in the “1st 12” box to bet on numbers 1 through 12, the “2nd 12” box to bet on numbers 13 through 24, or the “3rd 12” box to bet on numbers 25 through 36. Payout = 2:1

Color bet: This includes either all red or all black numbers. You place a bet on the red or black box to bet on color only. Payout = 1:1

Odd or even bet: This includes either all odd or all even numbers. You place a bet on the box labeled “Odd” or “Even.” Payout = 1:1

Low or high bet: You place a bet in the “1 to 18” box to bet on all the low numbers or the “19 to 36” box to bet on all the high numbers. Payout = 1:1

Placing bets online is usually a faster experience than when betting in a casino since it’s often just you against the virtual roulette wheel.

European vs. American roulette

Another widely popular version of the game is American roulette. While this version shares many similarities with European roulette, there are key differences you should know regarding the two types of roulette. The American roulette wheel features a double zero slot and its numbers follow a counterclockwise sequence (the European numbers are sequenced in clockwise order).

In addition, European roulette offers a 2.7% house edge, which beats out American roulette’s 5.26% house edge. This means your best odds of winning are better when playing the European version. It also has a rule that benefits players.

The “en prison,” or “in prison,” rule offers players an advantage if they placed an outside bet for color, odd/even, or low/high. If you placed a bet in one of those boxes and the winning number is zero, your bet is placed in prison. You can decide to take 50% of your bet from the dealer and leave the game, or you can leave the bet imprisoned and possibly find an advantage in the next wheel spin. If you win on the next spin, you get your full bet back. In other words, you won’t gain a reward but you have the potential to suffer only half a loss or no loss at all. 

How to Use Roulette Betting Strategies to Win

All roulette games are based on chance; however, you can play the game wisely to minimize losses and increase your chances of winning. No single roulette betting system guarantees a win every time, but you might want to consider the following roulette strategies:

Outside roulette bets offer better odds, like the Martingale strategy, which originated from the game's origins in France, or the Fibonacci strategy. If you place bets on any of the five outside bets mentioned, your chance of winning is greater than if you place an inside bet. This is simply due to the fact that outside bets cover a larger group of numbers.

Look for games that offer low minimum bets. Lower minimum bets enable you to place multiple bets at the same time, increasing your odds of winning. Making multiple outside bets could lead to more frequent payouts than inside bets.

Place inside bets with moderation. Inside bets are where you’ll find higher payouts when you win, so you’ll want to take some risks when playing roulette. Betting on a single number is the riskiest bet. On the European wheel, you have a 1 in 37 or 2.7% chance that the ball lands on your number. Making multiple inside bets can increase your chance of winning.

Protect profits by decreasing bet amounts. As you win, consider withdrawing your profits so you only bet with your original amount. This strategy will help you minimize your losses and hold on to your gains.

Set a Bankroll and Betting System

Online roulette can be a fast-paced gambling game, so it’s important to set bankroll limits for yourself before you begin making any real money bets. The best bet rule of thumb is to only be wagering what you can afford to lose, so set a loss limit and avoid a losing streak by sticking to strict bet sizes. At the same time, you can aim for a profit goal. This is an amount you would like to earn from playing the game without going over your loss limit. A profit goal gives you another set place to stop playing once you’ve reached it.

Play European Roulette Today

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